Social Relevant Project

on
Rain Detection Sensor
Submitted to
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, ANANTAPURAMU
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN
ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
Submitted by
SRINIVASULU BHAGYASRI (199E1A04C5)
KATIKALA GOUTHAM ASHISH (209E5A0409)

DHONDETI LAVANYA (199E1A0481)

PAIDIMUKKALA HARSHITHA (199E1A04B2)

Under the Guidance of

Mr T.Kaliraja

Assistant Professor

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

SRI VENKATESWARA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(Accredited by NBA & NAAC)

Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to JNTUA, Ananthapuramu

Karakambadi Road, TIRUPATI–517507

 2019-2023

SRI VENKATESWARA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(Accredited by NBA & NAAC)

Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to JNTUA,

Ananthapuramu Karakambadi Road, TIRUPATI–517507

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project report entitled “AUTOMATIC OBJECT

SENSING DUSTBIN” is a bonafide record of the Social Relevant project
work done and submitted by

SRINIVASULU BHAGYASRI (199E1A04C5)

KATIKALA GOUTHAM ASHISH (209E5A0409)

DHONDETI LAVANYA (199E1A0481)

PAIDIMUKKALA HARSHITHA (199E1A04B2)

For the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of. Tech Degree in
ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING , JNT University
Anantapur, Ananthapuramu.
 GUIDE Head of the Department

Mr T.Kaliraja Dr.C. Chandrasekhar, M.Tech., Ph. D

Assistant Professor Professor & HOD Dept of ECE

DECLARATION

We hereby declare that the Social Relevant project report entitled “Rain Detection
Sensor” submitted to the Department of ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION
ENGINEERING in partial fulfillment of requirements for the award of the degree of
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY. This project is the result of our effort and it has not been
submitted to any other University or Institution for the award of any degree or diploma other
than specified above.

SRINIVASULU BHAGYASRI (199E1A04C5)

KATIKALA GOUTHAM ASHISH (209E5A0409)

DHONDETI LAVANYA (199E1A0481)

PAIDIMUKKALA HARSHITHA (199E1A04B2)

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We are thankful to our guide Mr T.Kaliraja for her valuable guidance and
encouragement. His helping attitude and suggestions made us complete the project
successfully.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our Project coordinator Dr. Dileep
Kumar P for his comments, suggestions, and support.

We would like to express our gratefulness and sincere thanks to Dr. C. Chandrasekhar,
Head of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, for his kind help and
encouragement during the successful completion of the Social Relevant project work.

We have great pleasure in expressing our hearty thanks to our beloved Principal

Dr. T. Kalpalatha Reddy for sharing her valuable suggestions in carrying over the project
work.

Successful completion of any project cannot be done without proper support and
encouragement. We sincerely thank the Management for providing all the necessary
facilities during study.

We would like to thank our parents and friends, who have the greatest contributions in
all our achievements, for the great care and blessings in making us successful in all our
endeavors.

SRINIVASULU BHAGYASRI (199E1A04C5)

KATIKALA GOUTHAM ASHISH (209E5A0409)

DHONDETI LAVANYA (199E1A0481)

PAIDIMUKKALA HARSHITHA (199E1A04B2)

Abstract
This work focuses on using rain sensor, and it can be used in both
everyday life and manufacturing.
The ultimate goal of this project is to detect rain using a rain sensor. We
used a555 IC, which works like a timer, sending a pulse as its signal,
which is then read by the buzzer. Everyone's life revolves around water.
Water conservation and good use are important. Here is a simple project
that will sound an alarm when it rains, allowing us to take action to
gather rainwater and store it for later use. We can increase the
groundwater level with the aid of underwater recharge technologies by
saving this rainwater and using it. When the rain detector senses rain, it
sounds an alarm. The desired result was achieved in various aspects of
using rainwater detectors in irrigation, home automation, electronics,
vehicles, and other fields. Here is a low-cost rainwater detector circuit
that is simple and effective.
Keywords: Rain Sensor, Pushbullet, Power supply, Photon, 555 Timer
Contents
List of Abbreviations

1 Introduction
2 Types of Rain Sensor
2.1 Resistive Rain Sensor
2.2 Capacitive Rain Sensor
2.3 Mechanical Rain Sensor
2.4 Optical Rain Sensor for Cars
2.5 Rain Sensor with Sounds
2.6 Cloud and Rain Detection (Weather Sensor)
2.7 Optical Rain Sensor
3 The Rain Warning System Project
3.1 Rain Alarm Project Visualization of Blocks
3.2 Circuit Diagram
3.3 Components
4 Power supply
4.1 First Power Source: USB
4.2 Option 2: 12V DC Power Supply
4.2.1 Using 12V battery pack
4.2.2 Issues with Using 12 V
4.2.3 Heating and cooling
5 Sensor of Rainwater
6 Circuit Application for Rain Alarm Projects
7 Implementation in Practice
7.1 The Framework
7.2 Principle of Operation
8 The Hardware
8.1 The Particle Photon
8.2 The Rain Sensor
9 Source Code
10 Advantages and disadvantages
10.1 Advantages
 10.2 Disadvantages
11 Conclusion
12 References
List of Abbreviations
PCB: Printed Circuit Board.
IC: Integrated Circuit.
D0: Digital Input. 1
1 Introduction
Management of water resources and proper usage have become increasingly
important in recent years. Rain sensor senses rain and sounds an alert so that we
can save water to use for other purposes later. For example, there are several
methods for conserving water harvesting which means is the process of collecting
and storing rainwater instead of letting it wash off. Rainwater is collected from a roof-
like surface and directed to a tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), aquifer,
or reservoir via percolation, where it seeps down and replenishes ground water. The
level of ground water can be raised by conserving groundwater and limiting water
use.
The rain alarm is an application that detects rainwater and sounds an alarm when it
is detected. This thesis describes a simple and reliable sensor module that may be
available in the market at low cost.
There are so many types of rain sensors that it is crucial to know the differences in
rain sensors in order to choose the ideal one. Some rain sensors are inexpensive,
while others are long-lasting and resistant to wear and strain. It is essential to
choose a suitable rain sensor for an automatic rain detection system. It is beneficial
to be familiar with the various types of rain sensors available on the market and to
understand their benefits and drawbacks.
2 Types of Rain Sensor
2.1 Resistive Rain Sensor
The rain sensor is a plate on which nickel is applied in the form of lines. It works on
the principle of resistance. The resistance between each contact is extremely high
when the sensor is dry (open circuit). When there is water on the board's surface, it
forms a resistive connection across the two-copper strip. This difference in
resistance enables the circuit to distinguish between dry and wet states allowing the
sensor to detect rain. Resistive sensors are shown in Figures 1,2 and 3.

Figure 1. Resistive Rain Sensor

Figure 2. Resistive Rain Detector Figure 3. Resistive Rain
Sensor
2.2 Capacitive Rain Sensor
Industrial, commercial, and weather telemetry applications all use capacitive RH
sensors. The top plate of this capacitive senses the change in capacitance when
water is on the plate. Figure 4 shows capacitive rain sensor.

Figure 4. Capacitive Rain Sensor

2.3 Mechanical Rain Sensor
Rainbird has created a well-designed rain sensor that detects rainwater by triggering
an internal switch based on the mechanical weight idea. It is an easy and reliable
technique to tell if it is raining or not. Mechanical rain sensor is shown in figure 5. 4
 Figure 5. Rain sensor that works mechanically
2.4 Optical Rain Sensor for Cars
They are small in size and are normally found behind the windshield of a car, usually
directly behind the side mirror. Car optical rain sensor is shown in figure 6.
2.5 Rain Sensor with Sounds
The sound of rain is detected by this sensor. Rain falls on the platform, causing
vibrations that are detected by the sensor. Figure 7 illustrates rain sensor with
sound. 5
2.6 Cloud and Rain Detection (Weather Sensor)
This is an advanced weather sensor capable of detecting cloud and sky conditions.
Air velocity, temperatures, and other variables can also be detected. This sensor can
detect dark clouds and oncoming rain. Close the dome automatically before rain
destroys the precision telescope equipment due to weather or close the dome
automatically before rain destroys the precision telescope equipment due to weather.
Figure 8 shows boltwood cloud sensor

Figure 8. Boltwood Cloud Sensor

2.7 Optical Rain Sensor
An optical rain sensor is the best rain sensor. It detects the intensity of infrared light
reflected from the clear top. As water reaches the surface, any of the lights will be
broken. Internally, there is less light reflected. A drop in felt pressure indicates the
presence of water. This optical rain sensor has a quick rain detection reaction.
Figure 9. Optical Rain Sensor
3 The Rain Warning System Project
The rain warning project is a straightforward but extremely useful project that detects
rain (rainwater) and automatically sounds an alarm or chime. Water is a fundamental
requirement in everyone's life. Conserving water and using it properly is very
important. The rain alarm will allow us to perform some rainwater harvesting
activities and save the rainwater for later use.
3.1 Rain Alarm Project Visualization of Blocks
The block schematic for the rain alarm project is presented below. The Rainwater
Sensor, 555 Timer IC, and buzzer are the three essential components of the project.
Figure 10 shows block diagram of the rain sensor alarm. 8

Figure 10. Block Diagram of the Rain Alarm Project

The rainwater sensor delivers a signal to the 555 Timer when it detects rain. The
buzzer will be activated by the 555 Timer IC in A steady Mode.
3.2 Circuit Diagram
An automatic rain detection Alarm circuit, in this circuit we use IC 555 timer,
resistors, capacitors, NPN BC548 transistor, 1 buzzer, 12v battery. The rain warning
project is schematically represented using Multisim in the diagram described. Instead
of using a switch, this circuit uses a rain sensor (key=A). Figures 11 and 12 show the
circuit diagrams for the rain sensor alarm project. 9

Figure 11 .Diagram for Rain Sensor Alarm (12V)

Figure 12. Rain sensor is used as a rain detector.

3.3 Components
The main component of this rain alarm is the rain sensor. The rain sensor alarm's
components are listed in table 1
Table 1

Rain Sensor

Resistor

Alarm Component

Small Rain Sensor

4 Power supply
The purpose of a mains power supply is to convert the power delivered to its input by
the sinusoidally alternating mains electricity supply into power available at its output
in the form of a smooth and constant direct voltage.
4.1 First Power Source: USB
The most obvious and simplest power solution for the Particle Photon is the
integrated micro-USB connection. This connection not only enables communication
between a PC and the Photon but also as a 5V source for the Photon. Many projects
can take advantage of this and use a simple phone charger or computer USB port as
a power source for the Photon.
However, this method is practical for portable projects, as most USB sources work
on a main. Some wall sockets now include USB outputs, that could be a useful
source of 12 power for future Photon projects that are not portable and hang in
various places around the house.
The Photon is powered via the on-board USB Micro B connector or directly via the
VIN pin. If the VIN pin is directly powered, the voltage should be kept between
3.6VDC and 5.5VDC. When the Photon is powered via the USB port, VIN will output
a voltage of about 4.8VDC due to a reverse polarity protection series Schottky diode
connected between V+ of the USB and VIN. The maximum load on VIN when used
as an output is 1A. While 3V3 can be used as an output, it has a small overhead of
only 100mA.Figure 13 shows the particle photon with USB.

Figure13. The particle photon with USB

One of the most common power supplies in use today is the 5V (or 5VDC) power
supply. It is simple to get 5V in Multisim by adjusting the values of the resistors and
capacitors.
A 555-rain detector/sensor alarm circuit will be demonstrated as an interesting
project. This circuit will play a melody until it senses any water drops on the surface.
There are two integrated circuits in the circuit.
The first is a 555 timer IC, which provides the circuit with oscillations and time delay.
A UM66 melody generator IC is also used to set up the melody circuit. The audio
output is amplified by a transistor amplifier at the IC's output to drive the 8 ohms,
Buzzer. The presence of rain is visually shown using LED. Figures 14 and 15
illustrate the circuit designs for the rain sensor alarm with a 5V power supply and
PCB design.
Figure 16. 12V AA Battery Pack with Leads, 8 x 1.5v AA Battery Case Holder [14].
4.2.2 Issues with Using 12 V
Different batteries are used.
Consuming a large number of batteries and debating whether to purchase
disposable or rechargeable batteries. 16
Feed the current through the regulator.
A regulator is an integrated circuit with a straight-line output voltage that is
continuously controlled. The importance of voltage control is that it removes the need
to adjust the output voltage as the load shifts. Regulator circuit diagram is shown in
figure 17.

Figure 17. 12v to 5v dc-dc converter circuit diagram

The output voltage of a regulator IC influences its selection. Since we are developing
for a 5V output voltage, we will use the linear regulator IC LM7805. In the design
phase below, the voltage, current, and power values of the selected regulator IC are
needed. This is accomplished by referring to the IC controller's data sheet. Figure 18
shows the regulator

Figure 18. The Regulator IC (LM7805)

4.2.3 Heating and cooling
During operation, the circuit board's design generates heat, and the amount of heat
generated depends on how much electricity is consumed and at what frequencies
the circuit board is operated.
The higher those variables rise, the higher the board's operating temperature rises.
The PCB would find it more difficult to reach its target output levels at these higher
temperatures.
The aim is to build the circuit board in such a way that heat is transferred away from
the circuitry without producing hot spots.
To solve the major thermal problems of high-speed and high-performance panels,
here are some design techniques that can help:
• Large metal pads to serve as heating pads under hot sections
• Heat conduction from heating pads to ground planes is aided by fixed filling routes.
• Heat sinks attached to hot element heating pads.
• Using sheet materials with stronger thermal properties, such as polyimides or
metal-cored sheets.
• Cooling fans, as well as component positioning that puts hot components in the
fan's circulation direction.
5 Sensor of Rainwater
The figure below depicts the Rainwater Sensor used in this project. A simple sensor
that can be used to detect rain. It can function similarly to a simple switch, with the
switch typically opening and closing once it rains. As illustrated in figure 19.

Figure 19. Rain Sensor

The Bakelite or Mica board must be totally flat, and the aluminium wire must be
glued to the flat board as seen in the illustration. It is important to make sure there
are not any gaps between the wire and the circuit board. The voltage must flow
through the wires until the rainwater sensor is finished and attached to the circuit.
Since there is no conduction between the sensor wires when it is not raining, the
resistance between the contacts is extremely high.
Water droplets fall on the rain sensor as it rains, forming a conductive path between
the wires and lowering the resistance between the contacts.
As a result, the sensor board's wires drive and activate the NE555 timer via
transistor circuits. The output pin will go high as soon as the NE555 is switched on,
and the manufacturer will trigger the alarm
6 Circuit Application for Rain Alarm Projects
The following are some examples of rain sensor applications:
When it rains, this sensor is connected to the irrigation system and serves as a water
control unit, shutting down the system.
This sensor protects the interior of a vehicle from rain and allows the wipers to
operate normally.
This sensor is used to trigger a rain blower over the air inlet, clear water droplets
from the mylar wrap, and keep the air in the waveguides pressurized and dry in
special satellite communication antennas.
With the aid of a rainwater detector, we can automatically save rainwater in a normal
home. (This can only be achieved if the home automation is turned off and the
appropriate rainwater storage equipment is available.) The rainwater detector in this
case can detect rain and assist in turning on the equipment that will automatically
collect and store rainwater for various purposes.)
It is even possible to do this when it is raining chemicals. This is a frequent
occurrence in manufacturing areas [1]. 20
7 Implementation in Practice
The hardware and software elements of the rain sensor alarm design are divided into
two parts. This section will go over the parts of software and hardware.
7.1 The Framework
If water is detected, a notice will be sent to us right away. This means you will get a
notification on any (or all) of your devices, including your phone and computer. The
mechanism for receiving rain notification is represented in Figure 20.

Figure 20. Pushbullet webhooks and particle cloud provide instant updates to all your
computers
7.2 Principle of Operation
These measures will show you how it works: As soon as water is detected, the
firmware on the Particle sends an event to the cloud. A webhook that lives in the
Particle cloud intercepts this published cloud incident. This webhook sends a
notification to Pushbullet, which then pushes it to our devices via Pushbullet. 21
8 The Hardware
8.1 The Particle Photon
A Particle Photon is a fantastic Arduino-compatible Wi-Fi development kit that lets us
attach a variety of sensors to the internet. The Particle Photon enables us to attach a
variety of devices to the internet, including sensors, other devices, garage doors, and
even water sensors.
The particle photon comes standard with a particle cloud platform and
wireless flashing through a browser as can be seen in figure 21.

Figure 21. The

Cloud
8.2 The Rain Sensor
For water detection, we could
use two exposed wires as water
is a great conductor. They are
turned off as soon as water
contacts them, which can be
seen with a digital input on our
particle P. We will utilize the
particles' internal pull-up resistors to link the rain sensor to the ground and digital
input D0. 22
9.Source code
const int capteur_D = 4;
const int capteur_A = A0;

int val_analogique;

void setup()
{
pinMode(capteur_D, INPUT);
pinMode(capteur_A, INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{
if(digitalRead(capteur_D) == LOW)
{
Serial.println("Digital value : wet");
delay(10);
}
else
{
Serial.println("Digital value : dry");
delay(10);
}
val_analogique=analogRead(capteur_A);
Serial.print("Analog value : ");
Serial.println(val_analogique);
Serial.println("");
delay(1000);
}
10 Advantages and disadvantages
10.1 Advantages
Water Conservation A rain sensor can help you conserve a lot of water. When it
rains, the lawn sprinkler system is automatically turned off, saving water that can be
used for other critical purposes like firefighting.
Prevent illness and nutrition depletion. Overwatering stops your plants' roots from
penetrating deep into the soil, making them disease prone. Because overwatering
eliminates nutrients from the soil, it is also a primary cause of nutrient loss in plants.
Your plants are frail and sickly. Spend less on fertilizers. You may avoid
overwatering your plants and lawns by using a rain sensor. Nutrients from the grass
enter the sewer system when a plant is overwatered. You will need to compensate
by fertilizing your grass and plants more. This implies that you will have to spend
more money on fertilizers. Your garden lawn will remain an optimum setting for your
plants thanks to a rain sensor that efficiently stops your lawn's irrigation system from
over-watering your lawn and plants. Depending on the type of fertilizer that was
utilized.
Make Your Irrigation System Last Longer By reducing the working life of your lawn
sprinkler system, using a rain sensor minimizes unnecessary wear and tear. This is
especially handy during the rainy season when rain falls in and out without warning.
Groundwater and streams should not be contaminated. The runoff of residual water
such as pesticides, motor oil, fertilizers, pet droppings, and sediments into your
waterways is reduced by using a lawn irrigation system with a rain sensor. It also
reduces the number of pollutants that do not get up in your groundwater system,
such as herbicides and fertilizers.
10.2 Disadvantages
This Project does not indicate the rate at which rain falls on the roof. Until the
detector is wet, a signal is issued or the LED lights up. The detector will not work
until it is wet if something happens.
11.Conclusion
To conclude, this sensor will detect rain and sound a buzzer, indicating that action
will be taken in the future. The rainwater detection alarm system can be used in both
residential and commercial settings. It alerts users to the presence of rainfall and rain
when it is forecasted to fall. It is activated by even the tiniest drop of water, allowing
the user plenty of time to reclaim their belongings, cover windows, and, in some
situations, prepare to collect rainwater. When appropriately positioned to catch the
first set of 34 .
12 References :1. https://youtu.be/H62xzxI-4A0
2.Rain detector - Wikipedia